FAITH CAPSULE: Prayer is the master key. Consider your prayer session to avoid prayer amiss.

Daniel 6, Luke 22:39-53

How is your prayer life? In this wicked world, prayer is all that it takes to be delivered from temptation. When disciples of Jesus followed Him to Mount of Olives, He told them, “…Pray that you may not enter into temptation…” (Luke 22:40) Prayer is a master key to shut out temptation and deny evil’s entrance. Prayer, being a master key to shut, it will also open up closed door for one to gain entrance to receive from God.
Prayer is not a fun fair; it is a laborious–fair. Jesus’ prayer time in the garden was a demonstration that prayer is work, a laborious assignment. Jesus’ prayer demonstrated as it is written, “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) Jesus, our Lord and savior demonstrated to us about knowing and getting the understanding of prayer as crucial means to sail through in this wicked world.
Are you counting on someone’s prayer on your behalf? Take note that a prayer of labor demands your personal prayer engagement more than counting on someone praying on your behalf. In the wicked world of Daniel, when he realized that written was set against him in judgement, the bible recorded his reaction, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.” (Daniel 6:10-11) Daniel could not count on man’s prayer session but engaged prayer time. Daniel’s prayer master key shut down the judgement, while in the lion’s den, lion’s mouth was shut up as Daniel came out of lion’s den unscratched. (Daniel 6:19-22)
The prayer of Jesus on Mount Olives was not a fun fair; it was laborious prayer time that was fueled by agony of Jesus. Also, laborious prayer of Jesus was earnestly engaged. Earnest prayer is a serious intended prayer; a purposeful prayer engagement; a sincere prayer that is zealous. Earnestly prayer session of Jesus on Mount Olives was labor with addition of the testimony of His sweat like great drops of blood. Is your prayer labor or casual?
Claiming Jesus is not by mouth but to be living like Jesus. Prayer is a must. Prayer is not a loud making; prayer is not a demonstration of pleasing man; prayer is not to be arousing empty emotion. Seek God laboriously; engage prayer as the master key. Believe it that God which no eye has seen will act for the one who waits for Him. Prayer is the master key. Consider your prayer session to avoid prayer amiss.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of strength on the altar of prayer.